Snowboard

ABSTRACT

A snowboard with a core and a flexible running surface layer which has between the core and the running surface layer at least one hollow chamber, which can be filled with a gaseous or liquid medium.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a snowboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such snowboards are generally known and available commercially. On theirbottom side, which contacts the snow in normal use, they have a runningsurface layer, which, in principle, is designated as flat, because it ismerely adapted to the curvature or deflection of the snowboard.

For many applications, it is desirable to vary the geometry of therunning surface of the snowboard, e.g., so that the snowboard has adifferent lifting behavior in deep snow; so that, with so-called “railslides,” the snowboard has better control and prevents catching of thesteel edges; also so that the snowboard prevents the steel edge fromcatching when impacting the piste after jumps; or also so that thesnowboard turns easier on the piste with a convex running surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an object of the invention is to create a snowboard with avariable running surface geometry.

This object is realized by the features given in claim 1. Briefly,therefore, the invention is directed to a snowboard with a core and aflexible running surface layer, characterized in that between the coreand the running surface layer, there is at least one hollow chamber,which can be filled with a gaseous or liquid medium. Advantageousconfigurations and refinements of the invention follow from thesubordinate claims.

The basic principle of the invention is to change the running surfacegeometry of the snowboard by filling gaseous or liquid media into atleast one hollow chamber, which is arranged between the running surfacelayer and the core of the snowboard.

Because the running surface layer is flexible, so that just by itself itadapts to bending of the snowboard while snowboarding, by filling thehollow chamber with the medium under pressure, the running surface layercurves into a convex shape, thereby changing the running surfacegeometry.

The arrangement of one or more hollow chambers can be varied to a greatextent. In one embodiment there is one hollow chamber which extends inthe longitudinal direction of the snowboard nearly over its entirelength and likewise nearly over its entire width. In another embodimentone hollow chamber is provided, which is arranged only in the region ofthe nose. Furthermore, two or more narrower hollow chambers running inthe longitudinal direction of the snowboard can be provided that runparallel to each other. These hollow chambers can be completelyindependent of or connected to each other. The hollow chambers can bearranged mirror-symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to thecenter longitudinal axis of the snowboard.

The hollow chamber can be directly formed by the surface of the runningsurface layer pointing inwards towards the core of the snowboard and thesurface of a synthetic laminate opposite this coating. It can also beformed by tubes made from rubber or elastic synthetic film, whereinthese can be inserted between the laminate and the running surface layeror between a wooden core and the laminate, and wherein, in addition,there can be recesses provided in the wooden core for holding the tubes.

The hollow chambers or tubes are connected via channels to valves, whichare arranged on the top side of the snowboard and preferably in theregion of a binding.

The invention realizes not only the objects mentioned above, but alsothat of varying the behavior of the snowboard according to the shape ofthe hollow chambers. Thus, e.g., a snowboard, which is purposefully madeto be concave and whose edge thus digs in aggressively, can be convertedwith a wide hollow chamber by inflation into an approximately planar oreven convex snowboard, thereby producing better turning ability.

By filling the medium under pressure, the cross section of the snowboardalso increases, so that its torsional stiffness increases. Thus, oneobtains a variable flexibility that can be adjusted by the snowboarder.According to the pressure of the filled medium in the one or more hollowchambers, a damping effect can also be achieved, which, e.g., damps theresulting impact when landing after a jump.

A large degree of variation is imparted by means of the number andarrangement of the hollow chambers, as well as by means of separatevalves for the individual chambers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, the invention is explained in detail with reference toembodiments in connection with the drawing. Shown are:

FIG. 1, a view of the bottom side of a snowboard according to theinvention;

FIG. 2, a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a plan view on the bottom side of a snowboard according to asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4, a side view of the snowboard according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, a view of the top side of the snowboard of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6, a section along line B-B of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This application claims priority from German Utility Model application203 16 335.4, filed Oct. 22, 2003, the entire disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

First, the FIGS. 1 and 2 will be discussed. The snowboard is designatedin its entirety by reference symbol 1. It has a top side 2 and a bottomside 3, which contacts the piste or the snow during normal use. Itsfront end typically has a somewhat bent, rounded nose 4. Its tail 5 isbent and rounded (FIGS. 3-5) or can be a straight line (FIG. 1). In theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, there are two hollow chambers 8 and 9,which extend parallel to each other and parallel to the centerlongitudinal axis of the snowboard, essentially from the nose 4 to thetail 5. The width of the hollow chambers can be selected arbitrarily. Inthe embodiment shown, each hollow chamber has a width of approximatelyone-fourth the width of the snowboard.

From FIG. 2, one can see the construction of the snowboard. Startingfrom the top side 2, a cover layer 13 is above a wooden core 14. On thisfollows a laminate layer 15 and a running surface layer 16. The typicalsteel edges 17 are attached to the edges of the running surface layer.Between the laminate layer 15 and the running surface layer 16, whichare connected to each other in an air-tight and liquid-tight manner,e.g., adhered, there are the hollow chambers 8 and 9, which here areshown in the full state, so that they bend outwards in a convex shape.The hollow chambers 8 and 9 connect via channels 18 and 19 to valves 11and 12, which extend up to the top side 2 through the cover layer 13.Through the valves, a medium, such as air or liquid, can be brought intothe hollow chambers 8 and 9. If air is used, a commercially availableair pump can be used, as well as commercially available valves, such asthose known, e.g., for bicycle tires. However, reversible valves of aknown type can also be used, such that the medium can not only be bledoff from the hollow chambers 8 and 9 but also a vacuum formed in thesechambers, so that the running surface layer 16 becomes completely flatagain, which is desirable, on the one hand, for setting certainsnowboarding characteristics, and on the other hand, also for treatingthe running surface layer, e.g., for sanding and waxing.

The second embodiment of FIGS. 3-6 differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2essentially in that the hollow chambers 8 and 9 are formed by elastictubes 20 and 21, which are arranged between the wooden core 14 and thelaminate layer 15, wherein recesses 22 and 23 are provided in the woodencore for holding the tubes 20 and 21. The tubes 8 and 9 can communicatewith each other, as can be seen from FIG. 3, wherein, in this case, onlyone valve (11 or 12) is needed. Instead of two tubes connected to eachother, of course, a single, continuous tube can also be used. In theembodiment of FIGS. 3 and 5, the valves 11 and 12 are arranged in thecenter of the snowboard. It is also possible to arrange these in theregion of mounting devices, such as so-called inserts (recessed screwnuts) 6 and 7.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above methods and productswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description and shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

1. A snowboard comprising: a core; a flexible running surface layer; andat least one hollow chamber which can be filled with a gaseous or liquidmedium to impart a change in shape to the flexible running surfacelayer.
 2. The snowboard of claim 1 wherein the hollow chamber is formedby an elastic tube.
 3. The snowboard of claim 1 wherein the hollowchamber is formed by a region of the running surface layer and a regionof a laminate applied to the core opposite the running surface layer. 4.The snowboard of claim 1 wherein the hollow chamber is in flowconnection with a valve.
 5. The snowboard of claim 2 wherein the hollowchamber is in flow connection with a valve.
 6. The snowboard of claim 3wherein the hollow chamber is in flow connection with a valve.
 7. Thesnowboard according to claim 1 wherein the at least one hollow chamberis between the core and the running surface layer.
 8. The snowboardaccording to claim 5 wherein the valve is on a top side of the snowboardfacing away from the running surface layer.
 9. The snowboard accordingto claim 6 wherein the valve is on a top side of the snowboard facingaway from the running surface layer.
 10. The snowboard of claim 1wherein there is only one hollow chamber, and this hollow chamberextends in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard.
 11. Thesnowboard of claim 2 wherein there is only one hollow chamber, and thishollow chamber extends in the longitudinal direction of the snowboard.12. The snowboard of claim 3 wherein there is only one hollow chamber,and this hollow chamber extends in the longitudinal direction of thesnowboard.
 13. The snowboard of claim 4 wherein there is only one hollowchamber, and this hollow chamber extends in the longitudinal directionof the snowboard.
 14. The snowboard according to claim 1 wherein said atleast one hollow chamber comprises at least two hollow chambers whichextend parallel to each other and in a longitudinal direction of thesnowboard.
 15. The snowboard according to claim 2 wherein said at leastone hollow chamber comprises at least two hollow chambers which extendparallel to each other and in a longitudinal direction of the snowboard.16. The snowboard according to claim 3 wherein said at least one hollowchamber comprises at least two hollow chambers which extend parallel toeach other and in a longitudinal direction of the snowboard.
 17. Thesnowboard according to claim 4 wherein said at least one hollow chambercomprises at least two hollow chambers which extend parallel to eachother and in a longitudinal direction of the snowboard.
 18. Thesnowboard according to claim 15 wherein a separate valve is assigned toeach hollow chamber.
 19. The snowboard according to claim 15 wherein atleast two of said at least two hollow chambers are connected to eachother so that they can carry a flow and can be filled in common by asingle valve.
 20. The snowboard according to claim 1 wherein the atleast one hollow chamber comprises a hollow nose chamber arranged in anose region of the snowboard.
 21. The snowboard according to claim 2wherein the at least one hollow chamber comprises a hollow nose chamberarranged in a nose region of the snowboard.
 22. The snowboard accordingto claim 3 wherein the at least one hollow chamber comprises a hollownose chamber arranged in a nose region of the snowboard.
 23. Thesnowboard according to claim 4 wherein the at least one hollow chambercomprises a hollow nose chamber arranged in a nose region of thesnowboard.